Big Sky Resort in Montana found this out after opening a paintball operation on its ski hill last month and discovering that bears are drawn to the smell of the disintegrating balls shot by human combatants.
According to a story in the Billings Gazette, the paintball operation was shut down after black bears began walking out of the woods and onto the course. Some were even eating paintballs that had not exploded.
Big Sky Resort, which is not far from Yellowstone National Park, is in black bear and grizzly bear habitat.
A state biologist explained that bears, which have an acute sense of smell, are drawn to petroleum-based products and those being used at Big Sky were further attractive because they contained vegetable oil.
"Once we noticed the issue, we reacted to suspend paintball until we can find a material that won't have an impact," said Dax Schieffer, marketing director at the resort. "The goal is to find a product to get us up and running."Among other items, besides actual food, known to attract black bears: lip balm, sunscreen, oil-based house stains and motor oil.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo of black bear courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
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